Released 18 Nov 2020
A food sensitivity describes a reaction to a certain food shortly after eating it. They are caused by our bodies having difficulty digesting that particular food (or an ingredient in a food), causing uncomfortable, uncomfortable, and sometimes embarrassing symptoms. These are usually gastrointestinal symptoms, but skin reactions such as itching and a visible rash can also occur. Headaches after eating can also be a sign of a food intolerance.
If you’ve ever had bloating, abdominal pain, an upset stomach, or excessive bloating, either with or without skin irritation and headaches, then you may have a food intolerance.
Food hypersensitivity, also known as food intolerance, is very different from a food allergy. A food allergy can cause a serious allergic reaction that can cause breathing difficulties, wheezing, swollen lips and even airway obstruction. This can be extremely serious and even life-threatening.
Most of us, by adulthood, know if we are allergic to a particular food and we know we need to take the necessary precautions. However, a food sensitivity or intolerance is often more difficult to identify.
When we experience food hypersensitivity symptoms, we may attribute them to eating too much, drinking too much, or eating too quickly. But if we regularly suffer from the consequences of a food intolerance, it can make things difficult for us.
Feeling uncomfortably bloated, experiencing excess gas and noticing that clothes are tight after eating is annoying. But when we go out to eat with friends or family, or when we sit at a desk after lunch, it can get awkward.
Food intolerances can also be distressing, especially if we are sensitive to a food that we eat regularly. Constant discomfort in the stomach area, itching or a headache make us tired and irritable. We can sleep poorly and, as a result, perform poorly at work, struggle with relationships with partners, friends, and loved ones, and generally feel unwell.
Common food sensitivities include sensitivities to gluten (the protein found in foods like bread and pasta) and lactose (the sugar found naturally in cow’s milk and dairy products). But we can also develop an intolerance to many other foods, including certain types of vegetables and even some alcohols.
However, once we know what foods or ingredients we are sensitive to, we can change our diet and lifestyle. We can avoid the foods we know will trigger our symptoms. If we still enjoy them and cannot resist them, we can eat them only when we know we are at home or when we are not going to work or need to be out and about.
To find out what could be causing your hypersensitivity symptoms, all you have to do is send us a small hair sample in the mail. We’ll provide you with everything you need, and within days you’ll have your results and the nutritional advice you need. Order your test kit today and start living the pain-free life you deserve!
Written by Bev Walton
Food Writer and Nutritionist, Dietician
A chef of over 35 years with experience in all types of cuisine, diet plans, recipe development, health and nutrition. I’ve been writing for magazines, websites, and ghostwriting e-books, Kindle, and fully published books for more than 10 years. I have a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and I work with restaurants and healthcare organizations. I am also able to take high quality photos of the recipes created. No writing challenge is too great for me, and while I specialize in the above topics, I can write on any topic you throw at me. I am a member of the Guild of food writers.
